معرفی
Robert Cowie is a Research Professor at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center (PBRC) of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, serving as Graduate Faculty in both the Zoology Program and Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (EECB) Program within the School of Life Sciences. His office is located at 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 408, Honolulu.
His academic credentials include:
- BA Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge (1975)
- MA Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge (1979)
- PhD Zoology, University of Liverpool (1982)
Dr. Cowie's research integrates systematics, ecology, and conservation to address Pacific Island biodiversity crises. His primary foci encompass the Sixth Mass Extinction (particularly invertebrate extinction), rat lungworm disease ecology (where snails serve as vectors), and invasion biology of alien species. He conducts field and laboratory studies on Hawaiian land snails, apple snails, and metastrongyloid nematodes, combining phylogenetics, biogeography, and climate change modeling to inform conservation strategies. His work has significant implications for public health and invasive species management in vulnerable island ecosystems.
Analysis of his 2019-2025 publications reveals dominant themes: the accelerating Sixth Mass Extinction (with emphatic warnings against denialism), rat lungworm transmission dynamics through snail behavior and environmental stressors, and conservation assessments of non-marine molluscs globally. His interdisciplinary approach bridges parasitology, conservation biology, and invasion science, frequently published in high-impact journals like Trends in Ecology & Evolution (IF 17.3) and Biological Reviews (IF 14.4).
As Graduate Faculty, Dr. Cowie mentors students in Zoology and EECB programs. His laboratory investigates snail-nematode interactions, extinction patterns, and invasive species impacts, supported by extensive fieldwork across the Pacific. He actively engages in public outreach through documentaries like Accidental Host – The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease (PBS Hawaii) and media appearances discussing mass extinction risks.
